With the hottest holiday of them all
– the Fourth of July – just behind us, I figured what better
time to write about how to survive in the garden in the heat.
Remember back when we were all kids?
With the hottest holiday of them all – the Fourth of July – just behind us, I figured what better time to write about how to survive in the garden in the heat. Remember back when we were all kids? It seemed we were impervious to heat. We ran around playing all day with nary a thought about it being too hot.
Ah, but we’re all older now. Shoot, when the temperature hits 85, I’m thinking air conditioner, spa or anything to beat the blistering heat! The cool, rainy days of March and April are just a memory, with our hot weather obviously here to stay. And with the heat comes the need to adjust gardening chores.
Early morning or just before dusk are my prime times for gardening this time of year. You can get a lot done with a cup of coffee in your hand during the early morning or vice versa – between time when the sun starts sinking and it’s totally dark in the early evening. I can’t tell you how often I need to turn the outdoor lights on in order to finish a garden chore!
Watering during this time is even better for your plants. There’s less evaporaton during the coolness of the morning or dusk, so plants absorb more water. Plus, if you happen to accidentally hit tender leaves with water, the foliage won’t “burn.”
Speaking of watering, this time of year you should water in the early morning or at dusk. I don’t know how many times I see sprinklers going full blast during the heat of the day. When you do water, soak instead of sprinkle, too. Sprinkling encourages shallow, weak roots, while soaking encourages deeper, healthier roots. Automatic sprinklers should be set for a minimum of 10 minutes per station and possibly up to 20 minutes per station in our heat.
Of course, it’s not always feasible to garden only when the weather cooperates. For these times, you have to go with the flow. This translates to no dark clothing, not even pastels. Instead, stick with white because it reflects light. You don’t want to absorb any more heat than you need to. And skip the cute little man-made fibers. You need natural fibers that breathe. This means cotton or cotton terry because the latter wicks up perspiration. A friend adds this bit of advice: “Rayon is also good – and if you’re Martha Stewart, you can garden in white linen.”
Of course, you want to wear clothes that are comfortable and loose fitting. And wear a hat. Sombreros like the ones you get free from Chevy’s are perfect. Hey, who cares what you look like in your own back yard? Baseball caps are better than nothing, but they will not protect ears or the back of the neck. Use sunscreen for more protection.
Another great accessory is a head-rag dipped in cool water and tied around your forehead. Take this off before going out in public unless you like the Willie Nelson look.
And do take lots of breaks. Go sit in the shade and enjoy the garden for 10 minutes at a time. After all, we’re not 10 years old anymore.
